Egypt's armed forces said on Thursday they will start taking "necessary measures to protect the nation" and "support the legitimate demands of the people."
Egyptian television interrupted programming to present footage of a panel of senior military officers reading out a statement they described as "communique number one" of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
"Based on the responsibility of the armed forces and its commitment to protect the people and its keenness to protect the nation… and in support of the legitimate demands of the people," the army "will continue meeting on a continuous basis to examine measures to be taken to protect the nation and its gains and the ambitions of the great Egyptian people," it said.
The statement comes as massive nationwide anti-government protests raged for more than two weeks, demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak.
The veteran strongman has made a series of concessions but had not shown any sign of releasing his grip on power, although the head of his ruling party had earlier told the BBC that Mubarak would "respond to the people's demands."
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